Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius to Address Graduates at Harvard Kennedy School Ceremony

Contact: Doug Gavel
Phone: (617) 495-8290
Date: April 15, 2009

Cambridge, MA. – Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius, nominated by President Obama as the next Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), will deliver the 2009 graduation address at Harvard Kennedy School. She will speak to graduates and their families June 3 at the John F. Kennedy Jr. Forum, 79 JFK Street, Cambridge. The address will begin at 2 p.m.

Gov. Sebelius is serving her second term in the Kansas statehouse, and was named by Time magazine in 2005 as one of the nation’s top five governors. During her time in office, Sebelius has identified several top priorities for her administration, including growing the state’s economy, improving its educational and health care systems, and leveraging its renewable energy assets. She serves on the National Governors Association’s Executive Committee and is co-chair of the National Governors Association initiative, “Securing a Clean Energy Future.”

Gov. Sebelius also holds the distinction of being the first daughter of a governor (John Gilligan, Ohio, 1971-75) in U.S. history to be elected to the same position.

“Kathleen Sebelius is a model for our students of public service,” said Harvard Kennedy School Dean David T. Ellwood. “Her efforts to improve her state’s schools and support her state’s business climate while at the same time balancing the state budget are remarkable considering the current challenges we all face in these economic times. Our graduating students look forward to hearing her message.”

The address is not open to the public, but journalists interested in attending should contact the Harvard Kennedy School Communications Office at (617) 495-1115 to reserve space on the press riser.

A live Vivex video/audio feed of this Forum will be available.

This event will be web-streamed live: http://www.iop.harvard.edu/events_forum.html

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